June
29Saints of the Day
June
29
Saints of the Day
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul,
Apostles, martyrs, d.67.
This feast day commemorates the martyrdom of the two great Apostles, assigned by tradition to the same day of June in the year 67. They had been imprisoned in the famous Mamertine Prison of Rome and both had foreseen their approaching death. Saint Peter was crucified with his head dwon; Saint Paul, a Roman citizen, was slain by the sword.
St. Peter:
The Chief of the Apostles was a native of Galilee like Our Lord. As he was fishing on its large lake he was called by Our Lord to be one of His apostles. Peter was poor and unlearned, but candid, eager, and loving. In his heart, first of all, his conviction grew, and then from his lips came the spontaneous confession: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Our Lord chose him and prepared him to be the Rock on which He would build His Church, His Vicar on earth, the Head and Prince of His Apostles, the center and indispensable bond of the Church’s unity, the unique channel of all spiritual powers, the guardian and unerring teacher of His truth.
All Scripture is alive with Saint Peter; his name appears no fewer than 160 times in the New Testament. But it is after Pentecost that he stands out in the full grandeur of his office. He sees to the replacement of the fallen disciple; he admits the Jews by thousands into the fold and in the person of Cornelius, opens it to the Gentiles; he founds and for a time rules the Church at Antioch.
Ten years after the Ascension Saint Peter transferred his apostolic capital to Rome, going in person to the center of the majestic Roman Empire, where were gathered the glories and riches of the earth, along with all the powers of evil. From there he sent Saint Mark, his valued secretary, to establish the Church of Alexandria in Egypt. In Rome Saint Peter’s Chair was placed; there for twenty-five years he labored at building up the great Roman Church. He was crucified by order of Nero and buried on the Vatican Hill, where now the Basilica stands which bears his name.
Gallery of images of Saint Peter
Translate español
| français |
deutsch |
italiano |
português
St. Paul:
If Billy Graham suddenly began preaching that the United States should adopt Marxism and not rely on the Constitution, the angry reaction would help us understand Paul's life when he started preaching that Christ alone can save us. He had been the most Pharisaic of Pharisees, the most legalistic of Mosaic lawyers. Now he suddenly appears to other Jews as a heretical welcomer of Gentiles, a traitor and apostate.
Paul's central conviction was simple and absolute: Only God can save humanity. No human effort—even the most scrupulous observance of law—can create a human good which we can bring to God as reparation for sin and payment for grace. To be saved from itself, from sin, from the devil and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus.
Paul never lost his love for his Jewish family, though he carried on a lifelong debate with them about the uselessness of the Law without Christ. He reminded the Gentiles that they were grafted on the parent stock of the Jews, who were still God's chosen people, the children of the promise.
In light of his preaching and teaching skills, Paul's name has surfaced (among others) as a possible patron of the Internet.
Gallery of images of Saint Paul
Translate español
| français |
deutsch |
italiano |
português
Additional Information:
http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/06-29.htm
http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/06-30.htm
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1429
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp07.htm
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp12.htm
Saints of June 29:
|
|
Art Galleries of Religions and Christianity
The Jerome Bible Commentary, book by
book
1,093 prophecies and types of the Old Testament
fulfilled in Jesus and His Church
Other Web Sites of Dr. Dominguez
(over 300 in English and Spanish)
Home-Index E- Mail to: J. Dominguez, M.D.